When Worlds Collide - chatting with OnStage Blog's Chief Toronto columnist/critic and actor Joe Szekeres

I would like to introduce you to Joe Szekeres. If you have followed OnStage Blog for some time, odds are you have come across a feature written by this talented writer. Creator of the "Moving Forward" Series, Joe has been the Chief Toronto Critic for OnStage Blog for four years. Joe also participated in the community theatre scene just outside of Toronto for over 25 years. Some favorite roles include Alex II (The Real World?), Juror 11 (12 Angry Men), Mr. Van Daan (The Diary of Anne Frank), Captain Keller (The Miracle Worker), Evita (Ensemble), and Lazar Woolf, Fyedka and The Constable (Fiddler on the Roof).  Joe has also directed ‘Art’ (Yasmina Reza) twice,  ‘Doubt: A Parable’ (John Patrick Shanley) twice, ‘Love Letters’  (A. R. Gurney) twice, and ‘Departures and Arrivals’ (Carol Shields).

1.) How old were you when you knew you wanted to have a career in journalism and the arts? 

I never trained as a journalist. My major during my four-year Honours undergraduate degree was English Language and Literature with a minor in French language at The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I trained as a certified Ontario educator for one year in the Bachelor of Education Program at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. I had a 33-year career as an elementary and secondary Catholic school teacher where I taught Core French, English, and Dramatic Arts. I concluded my career as a teacher librarian for twelve years at the school where I taught for thirty years. 

2.) Are there any teachers or mentors in your life who truly helped you become the writer and artist you are today? 

I had and continue to have teachers and mentors in my journey as a theatre critic and columnist. One of my high school teachers, Ruth Nicholls (whom I consider one of my mentors in my career), encouraged me to pursue my undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature. Along with Ruth, the secondary school I attended was run by the Sisters of St. Joseph in the 1970s who also encouraged me to pursue both teaching and the Arts degree. Ruth also cast me in a couple of high school plays at my school, so I will have to credit her for how I began having an interest in the performing arts. Over the last 33 years (outside of my day job as a Catholic secondary school teacher), I’ve enjoyed wonderful moments in the local community theatres here outside the greater Toronto area. I’ve had experience as an actor, director, stage manager, lighting operator, and one-time producer (didn’t care much for that job even though producing is important).

Yet, I began to grow a tad restless and wanted a new challenge. I always wanted to write columns related to the entertainment industry, specifically film and theatre columns and reviews.

I must credit two individuals here whom I consider mentors to me in my newly chosen path as a theatre columnist and critic – the first is Will McGuirk. I’ve met Will a few times over the years as he was the Entertainment correspondent for the local newspaper in my area. One time, I met him and told him I needed a new challenge as I was growing restless. Will was just beginning a local blog entitled ‘Slowcity’ (www.slowcity.ca) for the region, and he invited me to come on board. Earlier that month, I had assisted Will with some professional learning inquiries for which he was truly appreciative. Because of this, he took me under his wing and thus began my new journey as the local arts columnist/critic/correspondent. 

The second person whom I consider a mentor is Lynn Slotkin, well-known and greatly respected theatre critic in the Toronto/North American/West End theatre scene. I have heard of Lynn’s name and read her reviews and commentaries during my undergraduate degree years and later when I started working as an educator. Her column ‘The Slotkin Letter’ is well known and highly respected in the professional theatre scene in North America and the West End. I took two ‘Writing Reviews that Matter’ workshops led by Lynn in Toronto at the Theatre Ontario head office. It was there where my interests in the world of professional theatre review writing took off, as they say. 

For the last four years, I have been the Chief Toronto Critic for OnStage Blog in the US. I have reviewed professional shows in Toronto, The Stratford Festival, The Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, The Centaur Theatre and Segal Centre in Montreal, and an off-Broadway production. Once we’re given the all clear to return to the theatre safely, I’m planning to expand my range and travel to Winnipeg, Ottawa, and put my undergraduate French to use and attend professional French theatre in Toronto. 

3.) We are living in some unprecedented times in the world. For all artists, it is a time of uncertainty. What has your everyday routine been like during quarantine and what are some things you do to keep your spirits up? 

I’ve been retired now from teaching for three years, so my life was busy with theatre reviewing across south, southwest and central Ontario and into Quebec. The pandemic brought all of that to a screeching halt. Our world as we know it now is ill for a myriad of reasons. Our earth and environment need to change and replenish themselves once again. That’s how I’ve looked upon this pause in my life and in the life of our dearly beloved earth. But this pause hasn’t been easy with the number of deaths and illnesses that have taken the lives of so many people. We must be patient with the gift of our earth, our health, and the health of others. I do try to follow the local protocols regarding health and safety within the area I live. 

At this moment, my immediate family and I are all healthy. My mother lives in a retirement home so every two weeks I must have a coronavirus test to ensure results are always negative before I see her. When life changed, it allowed me to renew myself on so many levels. I keep in touch with my mother daily and, when it is safe, take her out for car drives and bring her to my place for dinner. My culinary skills are slowly improving, so I’m quite pleased.

My sister lives in my area as well, so I visit she and her family for distanced times and phone calls. I have many good friends who live in the area too. We’re always watching the numbers and gauging ourselves daily. We’ve had many socially distanced visits in person as well as Zoom dinners. To keep my spirits up during quarantine, I’ve been trying to improve my daily culinary skills. A couple of high school friends retired from teaching the same time that I did, so we also go for socially distanced coffee, walks, and talks. I have Netflix-ed a bit: I loved ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ and the fourth season of ‘The Crown’. 

As a practicing Catholic, I’ve also spent some quiet time in prayer and time walking on my own. This practice has helped me considerably during some of those darker times of the pandemic. I am a cancer survivor, 10 years in full remission. I lost my younger brother to cancer ten years ago, so I value the time in prayer. 

4.) Are there moments in your career that stand out and will remain dear to your heart? 

There were so many moments in my teaching career that will always remain dear to my heart. It would be those moments when a student’s eyes would light up when he/she/they understood a concept, an idea presented during a lesson, or a one-to-one private explanation. To see a young person’s eyes light up in discovery of new ideas and thoughts made my teaching career an important part of my life. I compare it to the water pump scene in ‘The Miracle Worker’ (Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke version) where Annie breaks through and Helen ‘knows’. I’ve also reviewed some wonderful professional theatre since I’ve been writing for OnStage Blog. There have been many learning opportunities on my new journey to this point where I am right now, and I will always remain thankful and grateful for them. 

5.) What advice would you give any aspiring actors in these challenging times? 

I’ve been asking this same question to many of the professional Canadian artists (and some American artists) whom I’ve interviewed over the last six months. My advice (and the advice of many of the artists/actors I’ve interviewed) is to STAY THE COURSE. Develop other skills if you are able during this time – a working knowledge of another language, perhaps?

One person I interviewed several months ago spoke of the fact she was going to get a certificate to be able to work with seniors and care for them. Discover other things out there as there are many of them. Find new talents. Please don’t lose heart as this is only just a blip, a pause. True, we don’t know how long this pause is going to be, but don’t lost heart and focus on your pursuit as an aspiring actor. Read plays, watch online actors, and connect. Keep learning and trying new things during this pause. Don’t become complacent, sit back, and say, “I’m not doing anything else.” Find people whom you know can mentor you along the way. The theatre medium and television medium will look differently when we emerge from this. Keep aware of how it will change. Artists are resilient, and adaptability is rooted within your very soul.

Joe Szekeres’s headshot by Michael Drake.

To check out some of Joe's latest features please visit https://www.onstageblog.com/profiles/tag/Joe+Szekeres